Lock



1961 F. A. BROWNING 2,995,394

LOCK

Filed Nov. 20, 1958 INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States This invention relates to a lock, and more particularly to an improvement on a lock such as a lock of the Segal type.

The object of the invention is to provide a lock which embodies improved safety features so that the likelihood or possibility of the lock being opened or picked by unauthorized persons is prevented or minimized.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock which is convenient to use, since it can be readily locked from both the inside and outside, and wherein the lock includes an improved safety arrangement which will prevent burglars or the like from entering a building, dwelling or other structure equipped with the lock, and wherein a means is provided for preventing the door from becoming locked unintentionally.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved lock which cannot be forced open by an instrument and wherein the lock can be held in unlocked position when desired, and wherein there is also provided a means for conveniently holding the device in locked position when required or desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lock which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view illustrating the lock of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating certain constructional details of the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates the lock of the present invention which is shown to comprise a hollow housing 11, and the housing 11 embodies a back wall 12, and an outer wall member 13. The numerals 14, and 16 indicate spaced parallel fingers, of which fingers 14 and 15 are hollow and finger 16 is half filled in, as indicated by the shading, so as to leave a seating for the latch 3-8, thereby preventing pressure on the latch being entirely borne by the pivot screw 40. This fill-in is flush with the edges of the finger so as to make smooth slide for the-trigger, which otherwise is likely to catch on the edge of the finger. The outer half of the finger 16 is left hollow so that the plunger, when in locked position, would have its aperture within which to slide. The fingers extend from an end of the housing 11, and the fingers 14, 15 and 16 define therebetween spaced parallel slots 17 and 18 for a purpose to be later described.

There is further provided a hasp which is indicated generally by the numeral 19, and the hasp 19 includes a mounting plate 20 which is provided with a plurality of spaced apart openings 21 therein whereby securing elements such as mounting screws can be extended through the openings 21 for fastening the hasp 19 to a suitable supporting structure. The numeral 22 designates spaced parallel apeirtured lugs which extend from the hasp 19 and which are formed integral therewith or secured thereto, and the lugs 22 are adapted to project into the slots 17 and 18, as for example as shown in FIGURE 1,

ice.

The numeral 23 indicates a base which is slidably mounted in the housing 11, and the base 23 carries a pair of alined cylindrical bars 24 which are mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the fingers and lugs. Arranged on the base 23 is an inclined lip 25. The numeral 26 indicates a bushing which is rotatably connected to the back wall 12, and a pair of diametrically opposed teeth '27 are connected to the bushing 26. The teeth 27 are adapted to engage the inclined lip 25 on the base 23, and a stop pin 28 is provided for limiting rotation of the teeth 27 in one direction. The numeral 29 indicates a first spring member which is arranged in the housing 11, and a second spring member 30 has an end portion thereof connected to the base 23.

The numeral 31 indicates a lever which is pivotally connected to the base 23 by means of a pivot pin 32, and the lever 31 is provided with a flange 33. The numeral 34 indicates a third spring member which has an end 35 arranged in engagement with the flange 33, while the other end 36 of the spring member 34 engages a shoulder 37 on the base 23.

As shown in the drawings, there is further provided a sector shaped latch 38 which is pivotally connected to the housing 11 by means of a pivot pin 40 which engages an opening 39 in the latch 38. The latch 38 is shaped to provide an arcuate surface 41 which defines a shoulder 42, and extending from the inner portion of the latch 38 and secured thereto or formed integral therewith is a projection 43.

The numeral 44 indicates a fourth spring member which is connected to a wall 47 of the housing 11 by means of a securing element 45, and a portion of the spring member 44 is arranged in engagement with a pin or screw 46, whilethe other end of the spring member 44 is arranged in engagement with the projection 43 on the latch 38.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a lock which is an improvement on a lock such as a lock of the Segal type. It Will be seen that according to the present invention, a Segal double bolt double hasp safety lock has been converted to a snap lock which cannot be forced open by any instrument.

According to the present invention, the original lock has a sliding member that carries two cylindrical bars 24 which when engaged with the hasp 19 on the door frame, forms a double lock, with the ends of the bars 24 hidden within the engaging section of the lock itself. The usual lock has a double pawl arrangement operated by the turning key member or an inside knob which serves to lock the sliding member in both the locked and unlocked positions. Thus, turning of the key member or the knob serves to disengage the pawl and due to projections on the sliding member 23, the sliding member was caused to move to the locked or unlocked position. This thereby engages or disengages the cylindrical bars 24 into or out of the hasp 19 which is adapted to be mounted on the door frame.

Due to the inconvenience of locking, both from the inside and outside, and due to the possibility of forgetting, such a lock has not had the widespread use which its safety factor warrants.

According to the present invention, the lock is permitted to snap into the locked position, but retains its safety pawl arrangement in the locked position and a new pawl has been provided which is identical with the original except that the unlocked section of the pawl has been smoothed over. Furthermore, the companion member projection on the sliding member has been cut away and a spring has been fastened to the sliding member. Also, a half segment or latch 38 has been pivotally mounted on the pin 40 and fitted into the lower slot 18 where it engages the hasp section 22 on the door frame. Furthermore, studs or posts or pins have been placed in the paths of both the key turning member and the knob turning member so that neither will travel past the position of complete unlock.

Thus, when the door is locked, the 'hasp section 22 will have pushed the half segment or latch 38 out of the protruding part of the lock and back into the lock itself on its pivot. When the lock is unlocked, by either a key or knob, the locking pawl is disengaged, and the sliding member 23 moves to the unlocked position against its spring so as to draw with it the two cylindrical bars 24 until it is stopped by the stud or post in its maximum unlocked position. Then, when the door is pushed open and the protruding section begins to disengage the hasp, the half segment 38 under its spring tension 44, follows closely the lower of the two hasps and fills completely the aperture into which that hasp had fitted and through which the lower bolt had passed. Thus, it will fall into position under the butt end of the lower cylindrical bar so as to hold the lock in its unlocked position.

It is to be noted that when the door is closed, the half segment 38 is pushed out against its spring 44 by the lower hasp section and on its pivot 40 back into the lock. The door is then looked and the lock is held in that condition by its safety pawl.

It is to be understood that the lock is adapted to be provided with the usual appurtenances such as a back cover, and according to the present invention, a Segal lock has been provided with the spring 44 as well as the looking latch 38. The spring forces the lock to close, so that it is not necessary to use a key to lock the device. Due

to the provision of the spring inside of the lock, the lock will snap closed as previously described. The spring 44 serves to force the lock to close.

It is well known that burglars and prowlers are often able to break into homes, apartments, or other buildings, and with the lock of the present invention such unauthorized entering will be minimized or prevented. The lock cannot be opened by unauthorized persons so that burglars, robbers, or the like will be foiled and the lock is practically foolproof.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details conring within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

I claim:

In a lock, a hollow housing comprising a back wall and and outer wall member, first, second and third spaced parallel fingers extending from an end of said housing and defining therebetween spaced parallel slots, a hasp including a mounting plate and a plurality of spaced parallel lugs, one of said spaced parallel lugs adapted to project into the slot between the first and second fingers, and another of said spaced parallel lugs adapted to project into the slot between the second and third fingers, said first and second fingers being hollow, said third finger including a half hollow portion and a half filled in portion so as to provide a latch seat, a base slidably arranged in said housing and said base having a shoulder thereon, a pair of aligned cylindrical bars carried by said base, one of said pair of bars being mounted for movement into and out of the said first finger, and the other of said pair of bars being mounted for movement into and out of said second finger, an inclined lip on said base, a bushing rotatably connected to said back wall, a pair of diametrically opposed teeth connected to said bushing and adapted to engage the lip on said base, a stop pin for limiting rotation of the teeth in one direction, a first spring member positioned in said housing and adapted to engage said bushing, a second spring member having an end portion thereof arranged in engagement with said base, a lever pivotally connected to said base, said lever having a flange, a third spring member arranged adjacent to said lever and base and said third spring member having one end engaging said flange and its other end engaging the shoulder on said base, a sector shaped latch movably mounted between said second and third fingers, said latch adapted to retain said pair of cylindrical bars in said first and second fingers, said lug which projects through the slot between the second and third fingers adapted to engage the latch to move it to a position releasing the bars, there being an opening in said latch for the projection therethrough of a pivot pin, said latch being shaped to provide an arcuate surface which defines a shoulder, a projection extending from the inner portion of said latch, and a fourth spring member connected to a wall of'said housing and said fourth spring member having an end portion arranged in engagement with the projection of said latch for normally urgin said latch into a locking position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 642,961 Closz Feb. 6, 1900 1,195,613 Segal Aug. 22, 1916 1,212,569 Segal Ian. 16, 1917 1,391,005 Palmer Sept. 20, 1921 2,158,088 Segal May 16, 1939 2,512,609 Campbell June 27, 1950 

